READ THE CITIZENS' VOICE

Digital Only Subscription
Read the digital e-Edition of The Citizens' Voice on your PC or mobile device, and have 24/7 access to breaking news, local sports, contests, and more at citizensvoice.com or on our mobile apps.

Digital Services
Have news alerts sent to your mobile device or email, read the e-Edition, sign up for daily newsletters, enter contests, take quizzes, download our mobile apps and see the latest e-circulars.

Contact Us
See department contacts, frequently asked questions, request customer service support, submit a photo or place an ad.

Article Tools

THE CITIZENS’ VOICE FILE Keanu Pinnock pleaded guilty to third-degree murder over a drug slaying that took place on North Sherman Street in September 2016.

WILKES-BARRE — When Keanu “Preky” Pinnock appeared in court to be sentenced for murder Thursday, he found prosecutors joining his defense attorneys in seeking consideration for his remorse and cooperation.

Pinnock, 20, previously pleaded guilty to third-degree murder in the death of Irvando “Yardie” Crooks, 23, who was gunned down at a drug house at 70 N. Sherman St. on Sept. 2, 2016. In court Thursday, Pinnock said he prays for Crooks’ family and hopes they can forgive him for what he did.

“I apologize to the family of Irvando Crooks. I know what I did was wrong,” Pinnock said. “Since I have been incarcerated I have realized a lot of things — that this lifestyle is not for me. ... I’ve learned my lesson.”

Citing the display of remorse exemplified by Pinnock’s guilty plea — as well as his willingness to testify against his former friend Tevon “Mulah” Thomas, 25 — Assistant District Attorney Tony Ross recommended Pinnock get a sentence of 12 to 24 years in prison.

The maximum penalty Pinnock faced was 20 to 40 years in prison.

Luzerne County Judge Joseph F. Sklarosky Jr. accepted the prosecution recommendation, saying it appears Pinnock has realized the lifestyle he was living was bad for everyone involved. The judge imposed the sentence of 12 to 24 years, giving Pinnock credit for 420 days time served and ordering him to write Crooks’ family a letter of apology.

According to prosecutors, the gang members had a falling out after Crooks took Pinnock “off the line,” costing him the ability to make money selling drugs.

When Crooks showed up at the North Sherman Street address to collect $400 and a gun from Thomas, the men got in a struggle in the kitchen because Thomas pulled a gun and taunted him — saying something to the effect of, “Say I won’t,” according to prosecutors.

The men went to the ground during the struggle during which Thomas fired one shot and Pinnock fired two, prosecutors said.

Thomas took his case to trial last month, arguing that he had no intention of killing Crooks, a longtime friend. He claimed he pulled the gun out to show Crooks it wasn’t the gun he was seeking, and that he only chambered a round as an “intimidation tactic” to get Crooks to back away.

Crooks, however, continued grabbing for the gun, leading to the struggle and the gun firing by accident, he claimed.

The only reason Crooks died was because Pinnock then intervened of his own accord and shot Crooks in the back, the defense maintained.

But Pinnock, who struck a plea deal with prosecutors, testified against his one-time gang associate and claimed Thomas tried to finish Crooks off after the initial shots.

“(Crooks) was like on his last breath. He was crawling to the door in the back,” said Pinnock, who claimed that Thomas then pointed his gun at Crooks’ head. “(Crooks) was like, ‘Yo cuz, you really going to do this?’ That’s what (Crooks) was saying to (Thomas). And the gun jammed.”

Instead of being executed in the kitchen, a mortally wounded Crooks ran out of the house and collapsed across the street, uttering “Mulah’s dead” as his last words, jurors heard.

The jury rejected Thomas’ claim that he was involved only by accident and convicted him of first-degree murder after more than seven hours of deliberations. Thomas faces mandatory life in prison when he is sentenced later this month.

During Pinnock’s sentencing hearing Thursday, defense attorney William J. Watt III noted that Pinnock’s acceptance of responsibility and his decision to testify against Thomas is “not going to be easy for him” to deal with in prison.

But as sheriff’s deputies escorted him back to the Luzerne County Correctional Facility after the hearing, Pinnock appeared optimistic.

“I’ll be home soon,” Pinnock said.

Contact the writer:

jhalpin@citizensvoice.com

570-821-2058

We welcome user discussion on our site, under the following guidelines:

To comment you must first create a profile and sign-in with a verified DISQUS account or social network ID. Sign up here.

Comments in violation of the rules will be denied, and repeat violators will be banned. Please help police the community by flagging offensive comments for our moderators to review. By posting a comment, you agree to our full terms and conditions. Click here to read terms and conditions.